Dragon steps in to Bhutan’s Doklam (or Donglang) region and Indian Army steps in to protect Bhutan’s sovereignty, where Beijing claims its China’s People’s Liberation Army soldiers were building a road but stopped by Indian Army soldiers, is a plateau in western Bhutan. This plateau is a conflict between China and Bhutan.
China alleged that Indian Army soldiers entered in to Chinese teretory in an attempt to block a road construction in Donglang (or Doklam) area.
The Ministry of Defence of Chinese Government claimed that the construction of the road by its personnel was “entirely a sovereign act” in the territory of China.
The statement issued by Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for Ministry of National Defence of Chinese Government, however, did not have any reference to the Bhutan-China dispute over Doklam Plateau.
Beijing claims about 89 square kilometre areas in Doklam Plateau, which overlooks the strategically important Chumbi Valley in the intersection of India-China-Bhutan.
The road China claims to be building in its “own territory” in Doklam Plateau will give certain strategic advantage against India in a arm conflict in future, New Delhi feels concerned on this.
The plateau overlooks the Chumbi Valley, which is not far from “Siliguri Corridor” – the narrow stretch of land that connects India’s seven north-eastern States with the rest of the country.
If any one gets the access to Siliguri Corridor then North East will be cut off from rest of India.
Beijing in the past indicated to Thimphu that it was ready to give up much of its territorial claims in northern Bhutan if the latter accepts Doklam Plateau as a territory of China.
Beijing has all along been jittery about friendly relations between India and Bhutan. India has been funding major development projects in Bhutan since long. Indian Army also runs a military training facility in Bhutan, close to its border with China.
Thimphu on the other hand still does not have diplomatic relations with Beijing.
China claims about 764 square kilometres of areas in Bhutan. Both the country fails to reach a concious over the border after 24 round of negotiations.
